February 08, 2008

'Friday Night Lights' - is it game over, or will the Panthers play again?

The Dillon Panthers were gearing up for the final stretch of the football season when the writers strike shut them down.

“Friday Night Lights” (8 p.m. Friday WMAQ-Ch. 5), which follows the Panthers, their coach and those who cheer them on in the small Texas town of Dillon, runs out of Season 2 episodes with tonight’s outing, which features a guest appearance by one of the show’s executive producers, actor/director Peter Berg.

The show’s head writer, executive producer Jason Katims, said that “FNL,” which has been somewhat light on the football action this season, would have shown more gridiron scenes if the strike hadn’t come along last fall and shut down production.

When Friday’s episode, in which Berg plays an ex-boyfriend of Tami Taylor (Connie Britton), was written, it was “not in any way viewed as the season finale,” Katims said.

“It’s a cliffhanger, but it wasn’t intended to be a cliffhanger,” Katims said. By the end of the episode, which was meant to lead into the final story arcs of the season, “there are definitely questions in the air about what’s going to happen to some of our characters.

“If we were leading to the end of the season [under normal circumstances], we would have most likely brought the story around to the coach and his family again,” and there would have been a strong football element as well, Katims said.

Thanks to the strike, which began Nov. 5, seven of the 22 episodes NBC ordered for Season 2 weren’t made. And Katims doesn’t know if they’ll ever get made. There’s a small chance that “FNL” might resume production and air more episodes this season. But the odds are that it would not return until fall – if it returns at all.

“If the strike ends in the next week or two, we would be able to produce more episodes quickly, but the question is whether NBC needs or wants them,” Katims said. “I don’t think any decisions have been made.”

Katims said he thinks the show is in “a fairly vulnerable place,” but he also noted that the show has done OK in the ratings, has sold well on DVD and has an audience that grows when DVR viewership is added in. A recent story in Variety also pointed out that the show’s loyal audience is quite upscale and desirable to advertisers.

This year has been somewhat rockier for the show. Though it’s still beloved by most critics, some story lines, especially the one that featured Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons) in a murder plot, received a negative reception from fans and critics alike.

“You can’t expect to have the track record we had last year, where there was nothing critical said, and keep that up,” Katims said. “I think there was a little bit of people looking for problems. A lot of the stuff we did in the second season was really great, but I think some people rejected the story line about the murder and then looked at the show with a different eye.”

But Katims said that, in his opinion, Season 2 has been stronger overall than the show’s much-praised first year. I can’t say I agree with that assessment, though I do think that “FNL” is still one of the most well-acted and admirable shows on TV. And it’s true that the breathtaking first season gave the show an almost impossible ideal to live up to.

Of course, when the show is on its game, it’s still capable of greatness, as it was with last week’s heartbreaking episode about Brian “Smash” Williams (Gaius Charles).

This week’s episode features Jason Street (Scott Porter) prominently, and that gave Katims chance to talk about how hilarious Street and his buddy Herc (the wonderful Kevin Rankin) often are in their scenes. As the last few enjoyable episodes have proved, “FNL,” which is best known for its searing dramatic moments, has developed into one of the most consistently funny shows on TV.

“There is tremendous humor in the show, and that’s evolved over time” as the actors have become even more comfortable in their roles, Katims said. “People focus on the emotional aspect of the show, but some of the funniest moments in life are the moments when things are dark and gallows humor takes over.”

“The cast as a whole has been great at really finding the humor,” he added. “Scott Porter has been brilliant at playing [Street, who is in a wheelchair]. He’s a character who from Day 1 could have gone into a morbid, kind of depressing place, but he’s used humor and dignity to stay out of that and not let that guy be pathetic.”

Thanks to Rachel, who alerted me to the new "FNL" Wiki, which is here.

Comments

I was looking forward to watching Peter Berg's guest appearance tonight, but at the same time, I hate knowing that it was the last episode produced before the writers' strike. I am still a die hard FNL fan, but I have to admit that the Landry Murder Plot really took away some of my enjoyment this season. It just seemed like a ratings stunt, and I honestly expected something better from the writers who were able to bring us so many subtle and poignant moments as a result of Jason's paralysis. In my opinion, the writers ruined Landry's character, which is a shame since I think that Jesse Plemons is such a talented actor.

Despite all my complaints about The Murder storyline, I definitely want NBC to renew FNL for a third season (assuming that the writers' strike continues beyond March or April). It is good to see Jason get more screen time, since I think he is one of the most important characters besides Coach Taylor and his family. If NBC does renew FNL (crossing my fingers!), I think the show would benefit from cutting some people from the cast (not to mention it would bring production costs down). I really enjoy all the characters (yes, even Lyla), so I would hate to see anyone written off permanently (as in being killed off). It just seems like a natural progression that the senior students would have to go away to college or decide to move out of Dillon after graduation. The writers could introduce some new characters (freshmen students), while keeping Matt and Julie around from the original cast.

I've been a fan from Day 1 and still think this is one of the best shows on TV regardless of the criticism of this season. Last week's episode had me laughing one minute and crying the next. I hope it comes back next year but it doesn't look good which is such a shame. With all of the lousy shows on TV today, I don't understand why more people don't watch the brilliant FNL. Anyway, thanks Maureen for being such a supporter and keeping the Panther fans up-to-date. Let's hope there's more to come.

I adore Friday Night Lights. It's the best show on TV. I'am wishin'....hopin'....and prayin'.... we get to watch the stories of Dillon Texas to continue to unfold. For many years to come. Texas Forever

Friday Night Lights is the only scripted drama on TV that I watch religiously and enjoy. It's really the only show which adults and teens can watch together.
I'm a big fan of Kyle Chandler since when he ws on "Homefront" and Connie Britton is terrific. I fervently hope FNL comes back with new episodes and a new season. It's too good to be taken away from us.
Go Dillon Panthers!

With Silverman and all - it seems like a S3 of FNL is unlikely. The idea of selling it to one of NBCU's other stations doesn't seem to appealing either as putting the show on a niche cable network would almost certainly mean lower ratings that it has now. The seemingly obvious name that came to my mind for saving this show is the same person responsible for giving us S2 of FNL when NBC thought "Cancel" , Mr. Kevin Reilly.

Of course Mr. Reilly is over at FOX now, but what do you think the odds are that Mr. Reilly and FOX might be interested in purchasing FNL from NBC and restoring it to it's S1 stature & dignity?

Should all these petition signers & letter writers spamming NBC also be spamming Mr. Reilly over at FOX??

I don't think FOX when I think of drama tv shows, but imagine FNL following Idol on Tuesday or Thursday nights... wouldn't that be sweet!

I was just curious what Kevin Reilly's current position is at FOX and how much influence he has in the decision making there ... IF he were to still have his heart set on his baby, "Friday Night Lights", could he possibly be in a position to make it happen over there.

I think that more people should watch this show. I got my sister hooked on it now. It is one of the only shows worth watching. I don't waste my time with American Idol and all the other crap on right now. FNL is such a great example of a small town. No one drives fancy cars or lives in fancy houses. Just everyday people going through their lives and jobs. I hope that it is not cancelled. That would be a horrible thing. I guess not everyone wants to watch something with any substance.

It's been over a week now since I mentioned the idea of NBC selling FNL to another network, particularly FOX, rather than one of it's own niche cable outlets, and today Variety is reporting that NBCU is indeed trying to make a deal with The CW!

I wasn't as cRaZy as I first thought I was! ;D lol

I understand the CW is much more desperate for shows than FOX is , and FOX is in the dominating position when compared to NBC and FOX isn't one for the flavour of shows that FNL is categorized as .... BUT .. I still can't get past how great a match up would be to pair Kevin Reilly & FNL together once again! Imagine: FNL going back to it's season 1 roots and getting the lead ins that FOX programming can provide... a dream come true for FNL'ers!

It is what NBC has been trying to do for two years now ... expose FNL to a larger, new , audience with the premise of "people who watch it once will come back and watch it again".

I gotta wonder ... "What if Reilly REALLY wanted this? What if he wanted his darling-show back? Could HE possibly make it happen?"

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